Plans have been drawn up for a full-blown United States of Europe over which Britain will have 'very little say', a Cabinet minister warned today.The Prime Minister has promised that, as a result of his referendum reforms, Britain will not be sucked into an EU superstate.But Chris Grayling, the leader of the Commons, pointed to a document signed last September in Rome by the speakers of the national parliaments in Germany, France, Italy and Luxembourg.It says that 'concrete proposals' to deepen EU integration towards a 'federal union of states' will be drawn up at a meeting in Luxembourg next month.The joint declaration states: 'We are convinced that new impetus must be given to European integration. We believe that more, not less, Europe is needed to respond to the challenges we face.'Ominously, it says that deeper integration 'should not be limited to the field of economic and fiscal matters, or to the internal market and to agricultural policy'.It added: 'It should include all matters pertaining to the European ideal social and cultural affairs as well as foreign, security and defence policy.'The paper goes on: 'The current moment offers an opportunity to move forward with European political integration, which could lead to a federal union of States.'Mr Grayling, a leading voice in the Out campaign, said: 'This shows there are now serious plans for a political union, where those countries in the eurozone move towards having a single government.'

He acknowledged that Britain and Denmark would remain permanently outside.But the former justice secretary said: 'This new entity will still make our laws for us. We will have very little say in what happens.'We have to decide whether we want to be an independent country or whether we want to be caught up in what is heading fast towards being a United States of Europe.'

As Basil Fawlty would have said, this is a case of stating the bleeding obvious.

It's been known for years that a United States of Europe is the ultimate aim of the self-serving political "elite" and the cohorts of overpaid, underworked and virtually unaccountable leeches in the EU civil service.

The blatant sinecurism and the creation of such pointless and pretentious roles as EU President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs are clear evidence of this.

Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott attempted to set the ball rolling with his much vaunted "region of the North West"...and was given a bloody nose by the canny lads and lasses in and around Tyneside when they were given a chance to have their say.

From memory I stand to find myself as a citizen of the "Manche Region No.22" (or is it 23?) linked in with part of Northern France and probably run by a French governor. And this time, the unelected dictatorship in Brussels will not risk their plans being thwarted by that anathema to all dictators, a popular vote.